MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Do you know how many drones are flying above you?

Jun 2, 2016, 5:39 AM | Updated: 5:43 am

Drones are an emerging market and hobby and Seattle is no exception.

There are currently 1,355 hobby class drones in Seattle that are registered with the FAA, the Capitol Hill Blog reports.

Related: A teenager flies a drone armed with a gun. What could go wrong?

The blog dove into the data, and mapped which local communities have the most drones, and discovered a few other details.

• There are 1,355 registered hobby class drones in Seattle, ranking it 18th in the nation of cities with the most drones (Houston has the most with 3,057).

• Seattle ranks 28th when it comes to industrial drones — there are 27 locally.

• The Redmond community has the most hobby drones outside of Seattle with 229; followed by Kirkland with 139.

The FAA reports that there were a total of 31 incidents reported to the agency during 2015 (the 2016 data is not yet available). That includes 19 reports around Seattle; two in Everett; two in Renton; and two in Tacoma.

Most reports in Seattle involve drones flying close enough to make airplane pilots nervous. FAA guidelines for drones state that none should be flown within 5 miles of an airport — such as the King County International Airport aka Boeing Field. The FAA also warns against flying drones around stadiums, and above 400 feet. Some reports in the Seattle area note drones at heights of 5,000 feet or more.

MyNorthwest News

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

1 hour ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

1 hour ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

3 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

6 hours ago

Kia Boys...

Kate Stone and Bill Kaczaraba

‘Kia Boyz’ allegedly execute a crime spree in south King County

Renton police chased down a 14-and 16-year-old but are still looking for two other teen suspects in what they said was a "crime spree" in south King County.

7 hours ago

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

8 hours ago

Do you know how many drones are flying above you?